You want great food quick? Impossible, there is no such thing as this you indolent person (that means lazy for those too lazy to pick up a dictionary). But Minute Curry is a decent option on a late work night. Experience two servings of Korean Culture for under $2.00. Add some steamed rice, maybe an egg or some tater tots , and you have some proper bachelor/bachelorette chow. Mmm simple single life…

Pomegranate Vinegar

Ah yes, Pomegranate Vinegar, the staple beverage served at any sampling station in a Korean Market. The nice lady selling the vinegar approached me claiming, “it will make you more handsome, it is healthy, and it tastes good”.

Will it make me more handsome? Probably not, I have seen no studies quantifying the effects of drinking vinegar to increasing handsomeness. Besides that, you can’t mess with success. hehe

Is it healthy? Sure, multiple reports have shown the health benefits of vinegar. It has anti-ahterosclerotic properties which could lower blood pressure, its rich in flavonoids to boost memory and mood

Does it taste good? No. Unless, of course you are a flavor sensory masochist, to which I say “drink up”.

The lesson here, not everything that is good for you tastes good. Suck it up, take a drink, and be healthy.

The KPop CD

Listen to music “performed” by pretty young people with styled hair, BB Cream porcelain skin, and either toned abs or shaved legs, all for a stunning deal of $24.00 for six songs (two of which were hits, and four of which are “meh”, so you’re effectively paying $12.00 per song).

If you buy a KPop CD, you will be able to go to sleep knowing you supported an artist, a card with an invitation to join a fanclub, get an ornate CD case, a book with lyrics, and most likely get a poster of a pretty young person with styled hair. But when those two songs you like come on, pump up the volume and scream those few English lyrics.

Plum Juice

I had my doubts before purchasing this product. The dark swampy green color, the bottle shaped like a household drain cleaner, and be it plum juice, it would most likely be drain cleaner for my digestive system. Nevertheless, a few elderly Korean folk advised me to try a bottle and placed one in my basket, so as a respectful gentleman, I obliged and bought a bottle. Much to my surprise, the Plum Juice was actually pretty good. A light sweetness, undertones of grape flavor with none of the tartness, a rich fragrance, an overall delightful experience.

The lesson here, take a swig of some Plum Juice, don’t judge a book by its cover, and listen to Korean elderly folk.

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Oh wait don’t forget…

The Gangnam Style Singing Toothbrush

Tired of brushing your teeth to the sound of birds chirping or even more boring, blissful silence. Tired of being teased in class for having a regular toothbrush and not one with a Korean animated character like all the popular kids? Tired of the persistent pain of lugging your enormous MP3 player every time you go to the bathroom? Behold, the revolutionary Gangnam Style Toothbrush! The party only ends when the batteries die! No more

In all seriousness, thank you PSY for giving all adults the opportunity to ride the imaginary horse they forgot about in Preschool, and those without rhythm a new move in their repertoire after “YMCA” and “The Macarena.

Last Saturday afternoon, I took a visit to the Carrot Market *coughs* I mean, Zion Market. (Sorry, I get confused by the orange and green colors.) I noticed a rather long line of people in front of Paris Baguette, inside people snapping their metal tongs to procure large amounts of croquettes, croissants, gallettes, pain au chocolates and other very fancy sounding non-English bakery items. I was almost reminded of the H-Mart of Irvine with its “Tous Le Jours” store. (Can someone say Francophilia?)

I picked up a delicious Cake Donut Twist (also known as lunch for lazy people) and waited in line. Typically, I would make conversation with the people in line like a normal person, but after buying my new Samsung Galaxy tablet, I can now access the internet and ignore the life around me. Nevertheless, I decided to do a little research on Paris Baguette in my ten minutes of waiting.

After a quick Google search, I found out something rather scandalous. Did you know that there is no Paris Baguette in Paris, France?

The berets, horizontal striped shirts, fancy cursive writing, black-and-white pictures of the Eiffel Tower are all a ruse. “Le Patbingsoo” is not French for “shaved ice cream”. It is not French custom to put curry in a croquette. I guess I also had my suspicions when I noticed all of the staff working were Korean and didn’t respond positively to my authentic French accent.

Taken aback, shocked, dazed and other phrases Microsoft Word says are synonyms with “stunned”, I took a seat at the very modern and trendy chairs and tables and decided to do some more research on the company. It’s time someone spoke the truth about Paris Baguette, and here is what 10 minutes of research has taught me:

There are about 2,900 Paris Baguette stores in Korea, 50 stores in China, and more than 20 stores in the United States.

Paris Baguette is a popular place for Korean drama heroes and damsels to share mushy moments with each other with come-hither looks, comedic synchronized laughs and to express “saranghae” in whispers. (Okay, this one isn’t fact. This one is my observation).

They sell gift cards, so smack a bow on a card and make that special someone mildly happy.

Paris Baguette is part of the SPC Group, developing franchises through affiliates such as Paris Croissant, Paris Baguette, Dunkin Donuts Korea, and even Baskin Robbins Korea.

And holy cow, this Cake Donut is awesome! The crispy fried exterior, the sweet powdered sugar, the soft cake donut inside. Here’s hoping that Korean damsel doesn’t get too angry that I ate her share of the donut. Whatever, I’ll wait on an unusually rainy day to rush towards her with a half of a donut, asking for forgiveness. Pfft, Korean damsels…

Tired of brushing your teeth to the sound of birds chirping or even more boring, blissful silence…blah! Tired of being teased in class for having a regular toothbrush and not one with a Korean animated character like all the popular kids? Tired of dragging your heavy MP3 player to the bathroom risking acute backpain just to listen to your favorite song in the bathroom? Ugh, I know I am…

Behold, the revolutionary Gangnam Style Toothbrush! We’ve all heard Gangnam Style on the radio or internet, but the experience is totally different with the state-of-the-art speakers on the toothbrush and the acoustics of a bathroom. Also, the party only ends when the batteries die.

Have a foamy mouthed horse galloping party in the convenience of your bathroom with:

Parents

Exes

Colleagues

Pets

Girlfriends

Boyfriends

Preppies

Jocks

Nerds

Goths

And Etc?!?

**WARNING: KKonnect does not promote the “Gangnam Style Singing Toothbrush” or any “Foamy mouthed horse galloping bathroom parties”, please use caution when engaging in such activities**

Amazing, the Korean Shopping Scene in San Diego has evolved quite a bit since the Asian Market Chronicles Series started. We got a new Korean Market in H-Mart, and Zion Market has now expanded to one of the largest Korean Markets in America. More amazingly, this series is still alive and kicking!

Zion Market in San Diego moved to its new location in Clairemont Mesa, and I had the opportunity to visit the grocery store on its opening day. Below are some of my capricious observations:

The Not-so-good:

No Grand Opening? • Although they have had their Grand opening ceremony on the 29th of June, there wasn’t any clear advertisement about the store expanding to a new location, no solid date for when the new store would open, and no immediate weekend celebration (not even a single balloon?!) It left lots of people uninformed for a long time.

No Zion Bakery? • Yes, Zion Market now has a Paris Baguette. However, H-Mart already has one. Sure, Paris Baguette is sexier with its steel grey and blue sign, beret-wearing employees, and stylish banners with nonsense writing, but Zion Bakery was humble and unassuming. And it had some items which were either better than or not even served by Paris Baguette, such as almond cookies, Korean scones, carrot cake, etc.

The Good:

More Parking Spaces! • No more shaking fists, cold stares, getting a free lesson on Korean street obscenities, and the frustration of making the same loop over and over again.

More Aisle Space! • Zion Market in San Diego could perhaps be the largest Korean Grocery Store in America! No more lady folks poking my lower back and sides to make me move…

A Separate Seafood Section! • The most jarring experience of going to the old Zion Market was enduring the fishy odor from the seafood aisle across from the Korean Snack Section. But not anymore, the fish section is far away from all the regular food. Yay!

More Check-out Counters! o No more having to stand awkwardly for 10 minutes while doing slight rhythmic knee bends to the songs playing on the speakers and pretending to check my cellphone. Double yay!

Empty department stores! o What will occupy the remaining area of the store? A boba shop? Noraebang? A clothing store? It appears we will find out as the days pass.

Orange & Green Colored Shopping Carts! • How charming is it to think you are pushing a carrot cart around the store.

Ultimately, I would say this was a neat change for the good and a nice rejuvenation to the tired, chaotic and cramped Korean grocery scene. Here’s to hoping more KMART and SEARS stores turn into Korean Markets.

About the Author: Fateh is an engineer by day, dreamer by night and cultural sojourner on weekends. He will be providing his unique commentary on all things Korean.

The new Monster-Sized Patbingsoo now available at Maru!

Owner-Chef Ben Park showed his playful side and created a mountain of snow adorned Patbingsoo-style at Maru on Convoy.

The creation features all the tasty accoutrements of the regular Patbingsoo featured on the menu plus a plethora of fresh fruit cascading down a mountain of ice. The staff Maru-ites were on hand to taste-test the new creation and gave it a thumbs up – or would have if they had put their spoons down long enough….

So how many does it feed? I’d recommend bringing a good sized party to find out. 😉

Amazing, the Korean Shopping Scene in San Diego has evolved quite a bit since the Asian Market Chronicles Series started. We got a new Korean Market in H-Mart, and Zion Market has now expanded to one of the largest Korean Markets in America. More amazingly, this series is still alive and kicking!

Zion Market in San Diego moved to its new location in Clairemont Mesa, and I had the opportunity to visit the grocery store this weekend. Overall I believe it was a change for the good. Below are some of my thoughts:

The Good:

Bigger Shopping Area:

Zion Market in San Diego could perhaps be the largest Korean Grocery Store in America!

More Parking Spaces!

No more shaking fists, cold stares, getting a free lesson on Korean street obscenities, and the frustration of making the same loop over and over again.

More Aisle Space!

No more lady folks poking my lower back and sides to make me move… Now to figure out what it means when this happens and I hear “saranghae” whispered at me .

A Separate Seafood Section!

The most jarring experiences of going to the old Zion Market was enduring the fishy odor from the seafood aisle across from the Korean Snack Section (I have to pinch my nose when I walk near Pepero Sticks now). Then the process of adding a little bit of cologne after wards to make an unholy mélange of smells….ugh. Not anymore, the fish section is far away from all the regular food. Double Yay!

More Check-out Counters!

No more having to stand awkwardly for 10 minutes while doing slight rhythmic knee bends to the songs playing on the speakers and pretending to check my cellphone. Yay!

Empty department stores!

What will occupy the remaining area of the store? A boba tea shop? A Norebang Lounge? A clothing store? Another Paris Baguette? It appears we might see a food court by July 4th

Orange & Green Colored Shopping Carts!

So charming to think you are pushing a carrot cart around the store.

The Not-so-good:

No Grand Opening?

Zion Market is a San Diego store, it is the heart of the franchise, and there was absolutely no advertisement about the store expanding , no one had a solid date for when the new store would open, and there was no weekend celebration (not even a single balloon) to commemorate such a big moment in the company’s history. Very unusual. Rumor has it there will be a Grand Opening in the end of June.

No Zion Bakery?

Yes, there will be a Paris Baguette arriving soon… However, H-Mart already has one. I’ve been to both establishments, and Zion Bakery had some items which were either better than or not even served by Paris Baguette (Almond Cookies, Korean Scones, Vegetable and Egg Koroke, Carrot Cake, etc).

Let’s start this post off with something controversial, I am not keen on Korean Sweets. Colorful Jellys or glutinous rice cakes do not seem appetizing for a person raised on glazed doughnuts, a plethora of pies, and 31 flavors of Ice-Cream. Perhaps I do not have a “sophisticated palette”, but the phrase glutinous gives me gastro-emisis .

Today I went to a grocery store called H-Mart and after a making a food sample circuit around the store (asking questions like “so you call these dumplings? Never heard of it…nom nom) I took a stroll to the hot foods section and saw a peculiar piece of paper taped on the wall, with a drawn on message “Honey Pancakes 2 for $3. Honey Pancakes aka Honey Hotcakes aka “Hotteok” is a Korean Street Food typically filled with honey, chopped nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon, cooked on a griddle.

I demanded a double-stack from the employee behind the register and waited. Looking to the other side of the store I saw Paris Baguette and was a bit concerned that I was going to get some wannabe European-Style dessert. The employee came back and I was presented not with two pieces of fancy pants crepes, but with two pieces of thick glorious American-Style flapjacks. After a few blinks of astonishment and an exhale of surprise, I sauntered to the cafeteria and sat down to admire the Honey Pancakes.

The warmth radiating from the flapjacks titillated my senses, the fragrance of sweet batter so comforting, I cut a triangular piece and saw a thin layer of honey, and crushed nuts nestled between two buttery stacks of soft pancakes. A quick bite and I began to whimper at how delicious and enjoyable the Honey Pancakes were. I then called them “Ohm” Pancakes, as in “Oh My Gosh These Pancakes are Flippin’ Awesome!”. Afterwards, I aptly rushed to compliment the chef in his efforts.

Apparently, Honey Pancakes are the first in what will be a series of “Korean Street Food” that will be served at the H-Mart in Mira Mesa. This KKonnect Writer is excited to see what is coming next. Next in line will be a Hazelnut Chocolate Hotteok, so give up on losing weight for the next few months.

The Power of the Press: Enter the KKonnect Effect [The Asian Market Chronicles

I had the opportunity of visiting H-Mart today, bought some soy milk, did a little grooving to Korean Music in between the isles, mooched on some samples of Curry, Calpico Drink, Chilean Sea Bass, and Dumplings; a lazy-man’s dinner.

Can you point out what is unusual about the above sentence?

If you recall, earlier this year I gave my priceless (literally free) opinions on the five reasons “Why I Love and Despise H-Mart” as part of the surprisingly surviving “Asian Market Chronicles” series in the Korea Daily Magazine.

In it I mention how I deplored the use of Ryan Seacrest’s Top 40 Pop Music to be used on the public in Grocery Stores, let alone in a Korean Supermarket. How songs about glamorizing getting money, drugs, sex, and more money or how Bruno Mars is “Locked out of Heaven” were not the most appropriate music for families to purchase food to. In addition to pointing out that the other H-Mart locations played Korean Music for a Korean-owned Grocery Store.

Guess What?

H-Mart-Mira Mesa has started to play Korean Music in their stores.

Are these series of events random? Perhaps… However because this is my article I’ll make my own claim. This is an example of the power of the KKonnect Effect!

So shoppers, you will now be immersed in Korean Culture through Food, Products and Music at H-Mart-Mira Mesa. Finally, the quasi-cultural experience is now complete!

You’re welcome 🙂

Now we wait until the Korean Pop songs “Bubble Pop” or “ Pandora” play and I become vexed once again.

마루(Maru): A wood paneled floor or platform outside a traditional Korean home used for gathering and entertaining.

MARU Lounge: A social platform for people of different cultural backgrounds to gather over great food and drinks.

Featuring a fresh, comfortable décor with tempting bench seats dotted with comfy pillows and a chic black and neutral toned interior, MARU creates an atmosphere that invites guests be at home. Owner/chef Ben Park specializes in Korean cuisine with a vision: make Korean food interesting and approachable to Koreans and non-Koreans alike. With that concept in mind he creates not only traditional favorites like Spicy Rice Cake (꺽볶이), but Cream Rice Cake, a Carbonara-style dish with Alfredo sauce, bacon and vegetables. Bulgogi (불고기) is served, but so is French Fries & Bulgogi – Chef Park’s Korean twist on Carne Asada Fries. The menu, which will likely change over time as inspiration motivates, includes salads, grilled and fried options, and warm-your-heart stews. And the dishes look every bit as fabulous as they taste: if you’re into food porn, I highly recommend MARU’s menu Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/maru.sandiego/photos_stream

When asked what made MARU different, manager Kevin Park responded: “We believe Korean food is about balance and harmony. Whether it is in terms of food or community, to achieve balance and harmony you need knowledge and awareness of what is available and ability and willingness to incorporate different elements. I think what we are doing reflects that. We take something that we are very comfortable with like Soju and collaborate it with western cocktails: Soju Margarita, Soju Mojito, Blended Soju Smoothies, etc.” (They’re really yummy, by the way!)

MARU wants to be proactive in the community, not just with Koreans, but with the community as a whole. They want to be part of and support any cause that will reach out and connect people together. One step inside the door and guests feel the connection MARU hopes to create. The staff is friendly and warm.

So I asked: Why should people come to MARU?

Kevin answered: “Because we want YOU to be here. We want YOU to be part of us and what we do. Yes, we have quality Korean food made from fresh quality ingredients for connoisseur or new-comers, we make phenomenal cocktail soju, and we have awesome staff that are good-looking as well as friendly. But come to enjoy quality time with your friends and family and experience what diversity has to offer.”

I have, and I do. Remember the T.V. show “Cheers?” Where everybody knows your name. That’s MARU – but with class, and much better food!

Moby Dick has been found! And it is nowhere near New England, in fact it is a little closer to 4805 Convoy St in San Diego.

I recently had the opportunity to visit one of the hidden foodie spots in San Diego. Moby Dick Fish Market and Grill as the name alludes to is a Fish Market and restaurant. The market sells an impressive array of fresh premium seafood from as close as Southern California to as far as New Zealand, Hawaii, Chile, and Japan. The restaurant takes the fresh seafood and makes classic poorboy sandwiches, tacos, and salads to complex pastas, miso zuke dishes, intricate sushi and Korean mixed rice dishes.

One of the great advantages of eating at Moby Dick Fish Market and Grill is that the seafood is as fresh as can be. Fresh seafood means a more colorful, vibrant and delicious seafood.

Entering the restaurant I was immediately greeted by a very attentive and sociable staff. The restaurant grounds were spacious, clean, and well maintained. However beyond the amicable staff and aesthetics, more importantly the restaurant had a true mark of a fine seafood establishment… No fishy smell!

After sharing a few capricious anecdotes with the staff, I then had the wonderful pleasure of meeting the owner of Moby Dick Fish Market and Grill, Mr. Chris Park.

ABOUT THE OWNER:

Saying Moby Dick Fish Market & Grill owner Chris Park has a passion for seafood is an egregious understatement. Not only does Mr. Park have a keen sense of the flavors and preparation of seafood with his culinary acumen, he owns his own fish market, and he also did his undergraduate studies at the University of California San Diego studying Oceanography and Marine Biology. His knowledge and appreciation for seafood would easily show when I and my colleagues were presented with his signature dishes.

DUNGENESS CRAB:

The Dungeness Crab from Washington State was quite succulent, moist and juicy. Not much needs to be said here, the crab was prepared excellently and only needed to be complimented with a lemon butter sauce.

CHERRYSTONE CLAMS:

The Cherrystone Clams came from Connecticut. The clam shells were colorful, easily showing their freshness. The clams were meaty and tender to the bite. A small squirt of lemon added a nice tartness to the savory clam meat. Simplicity and elegance all in one shell.

ROCKFISH:

Seafood is generally presented in a bourgeoisie filet in most seafood establishments. In Moby Dick, when you order fish, you literally get a whole fish presented to you. The Rockfish from Boston, Massachusetts I was presented with was fried perfectly, my fork pierced through the crispy exterior, into the soft and flaky fish meat. My colleagues and I had quite an easy time sharing the Rockfish as the meat separated from the bones so stress-free. The fish was buttery and was presented with a unique tart coleslaw.

JUMBO PRAWNS:

The next dish I was presented with was an array of fried prawns with a spicy ponzu sauce. The bold taste of the giant prawns was complimented with a unique spice seasoning which provided just enough heat to pucker your lips and crave more. The ponzu sauce added a wonderful layer of tartness to the already flavorful prawn. And the portions were quite satisfying.

CONCLUSION:

Moby Dick Fish Market and Grill excels in offering a veritable bevy of fresh fish and seafood including but not limited to ; Yellowtail, Shark, Calamari Steak, Red Snapper, Salmon, Hawaiian Ono, Albacore, Mahi Mahi, Seared Ahi Tuna, Halibut, Swordfish, Chilean Sea Bass and Alaskan Halibut. In addition to the restaurant, a Sushi Academy is offered where one can learn the fine art of Sushi making from a classically trained Master Chef from Japan.

Ultimately, the freshness, variety and owner’s appreciation of seafood sets this establishment apart from others. I look forward to revisiting the restaurant, chatting with the attentive and amicable staff, trying another regional delicacy, discovering new flavors, textures and aromas and learning my way around cutting a piece of Japanese Tuna.